• Most common cause of violent death in the world: Suicide

• Suicide: 49.1%

• Homicide: 31.3%

• War-related: 18.6%

Rate of suicide all over the world: Someone commits suicide every 40 seconds.

• Number of suicides in Canada every year: Approximately 4000

• Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among Canadians aged 15 – 24

• 16% of all deaths for the age group 25 – 44.

• Likelihood that people with mental illness will commit violent acts: No greater than the general population

• Likelihood that people with mental illness will be victims of crime: 2.5 times that of the general population.

The impact of mental and neurological disorders on levels of disability:

Five of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide are mental or nervous disorders.

Percentage of all those with mental illness in the world who never receive any treatment at all: 75%

Source: As reported in GAMIAN – Europe Newsletter, 10(31), Winter edition 2008/09.

Toronto’s Street Health report (2007) concludes that homeless people do not suffer different illnesses compared to those who are properly housed, but that they experience a higher rate of a wide range of physical and mental health issues. Many homeless people also face significant barriers to accessing health services.

• 29 times more likely to have Hepatitis C

• 20 times more likely to have epilepsy

• 5 times more likely to have heart disease

• 4 times more likely to have cancer

• 3.5 times more likely to have asthma

• 3 times more likely to have arthritis or rheumatism (Khandor & Mason, 2007)

While mental health conditions account for nearly 132,000 ER visits per year in Ontario, evidence indicates that those seeking help do not receive care at the same level of urgency provided to individuals with physical health issues

“ER staff typically don’t have time to sit with someone in crisis. Yet ... it’s when clients are able to talk that they calm down, that they are able to see things clearer, articulate what they want, and make choices to resolve their crisis.” Mary Barzyk, Community Crisis Care

It’s vital that clinicians work together to make an impact on patient outcomes by elevating the role of patient nutrition. Research shows malnutrition significantly affects outcomes:Patients with weight loss are at increased risk for readmission.1

Malnourished patients are 2 times more likely to develop a pressure ulcer in the hospital.2

Patients with malnutrition and weight loss have 3 times the risk for surgical site infection.3

45% of patients who fall in the hospital are malnourished.4

Malnutrition is treatable, but we must act now. With a rapidly growing population of older adults and sharp increases in chronic disease, the value of proper nutrition in the hospital setting has never been higher.

Sources

• Source: Violence and mental illness fact sheet, Canadian Mental Health Association.

Available at: http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-108&lang=1

Source: Kirby, M. & Keon, W. (2004). Report 1, Mental health, mental illness and addiction: Overview of policies and programs in Canada (Chapter 5).

Interim report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

The Crazy Lady

Twitter: @thecrazylady01

Blog: www.thecrazylady.wordpress.com

Email: thecrazylady01@yahoo.ca